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Fish vendor reunited with family after being jailed for ECQ violation


 

A fish vendor who was detained for not having a travel pass when he went to the market has been reunited with his family in Caloocan City after 12 days.

According to a 24 Oras report by Tina Panganiban Perez, Joseph “Mang Dodong” Jimeda was freed on Wednesday through the efforts of people from the San Roque Cathedral in Caloocan, Caritas Caloocan, and the Public Attorneys Office.

He was nabbed on May 7 for going to the Navotas Fish Market without a travel pass.

“Halos araw araw maiiyak e. Ang sakit sa loob e. Sobrang hirap talaga ‘yun. Ang [iniisip] ko, ang pamilya ko, isa may sakit… Kulong pa ko nila ganiyang katagal,” Mang Dodong said through tears.

“Kapag kakain kami sa umaga, isang pirasong tinapay. Pagka gabi, kaunting kanin lang. Kaunting salo-salo lang sa mga kasama. Sobrang init sa loob, walang makadalaw sa’kin,” he added.

Mang Dodong was finally reunited with his wife and their four-year-old adopted child Jessica.

“Sabi niya, “Papa ang tagal mong umuwi. ‘Wag ka nang aalis ulit ha?’ Sabi ko naman sa kaniya, ‘Kung hindi ako aalis ‘nak, wala tayong kakainin kasi ‘yan ang hanapbuhay ko, isda lang,’” he shared.

Barangay 31 chairman Jose Mercado said they gave Mang Dodong his share of cash subsidy from the government’s amelioration program, barangay residency, and a barangay travel pass.

Mang Dodong also filed a guilty plea for simple disobedience

“Pasalamat ko sa lahat po ng tumulong sa akin,” he said. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News

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